The Rich Boy

by Scott, Kylie

  I slump back in my seat and just take a minute. No matter how much I’d like life to slow down, it’s not going to happen anytime soon. This is the reality of our situation. Me bitching about it or dreaming it was otherwise won’t help a thing. Mom always said you had to recognize the things you could and couldn’t change. What lies within your purview? Beck is a busy rich man dealing with big important things. Not that my life, wants, and needs don’t matter. But you support your partner. My own parents showed me this time and again. How you present a united front to the world and have each other’s backs. No way will I accept less in my life. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. I’m giving us a chance to sort this out.”

  And on his face there’s the hint of a flinch again.

  It hurts my bruised heart to see it. “Hey, I’m serious. I’ve been fighting people for the right to be here with you since I landed in Denver. I’m not giving up now, no matter how mad I am at you. Now check your phone.”

  With a sigh, he picks up his cell. “Ethan’s called four times.”

  “Go take care of business. I’ll see you for dinner tonight.”

  “Are you sure?”

  My smile is small, but it’s there. “Yes.”

  “Ask me why I’m not in Paris.”

  “Emma?” I sit at the small antique desk in my new bedroom on the fourth floor. Mrs. Francis and Smith helped me move some clothes and other assorted necessary items. We found the chair and desk on the second floor. After yesterday’s drama, I’m not ready to face the beautiful library again just yet. Using the desk and chair is much more adult than working sprawled across the bed (despite being super comfortable). Especially since it seems to agitate Mrs. Francis if she can’t make the bed up with half a dozen decorative cushions and keep the room in some semblance of order for me. “What are you doing here?”

  The petite blonde stands there in a red sweater dress and black knee-high boots. Hair and makeup immaculate. Behind her lurks Matías, leaning against the doorjamb like he’s posing for the cover of GQ.

  “Good God, Alice, you look terrible. Grandma called me. Then Beck called me. Then I called Ethan followed by Mom. Lots of opinions, emotions, and hot takes, let me tell you. Phew. Now it’s time for you and I to talk.” She points an accusing finger at her dapper husband. “You wait out there. You withheld information. That was a poor choice on your part, Matías.”

  He sighs. “So you said the entire flight back from Europe.”

  “Apologize to her.”

  He turns his handsome visage my way. “Sorry I lied about the job, Alice. But you were really good at it and I’m hoping that you’ll agree to continue with the work.”

  “I don’t know,” I say, despite the fact it’s what I’m currently working on. All of the males in this family get away with shit far too easily, in all honesty.

  “She’ll consider your offer. But you’ll need to at least double her rate of pay. Now stand out there and think about what you’ve done,” instructs Emma before shutting the door in his face. “Idiot males.”

  She frowns at my new room. It’s neither as big nor as grand as the master bedroom, but I didn’t think it was that bad. Perhaps it’s just that I’m using a different room. Makes sense.

  “When was the last time you ate?” She opens the door once more. “Matías, Alice needs some lunch. And some sort of green smoothie to help her complexion and energy levels. She looks like hell. Go. Fetch. Hurry.”

  There’s grumbling, but he goes.

  I just watch. “I appreciate the concern, but the fact is we barely know each other. Why are you really here, Emma?”

  “Because my idiot little brother messed things up with you and someone needs to fix the situation and that someone is apparently me.” She turns in a slow circle, taking in the room with her brows drawn. “He’s at my therapist’s office then he’s heading back into Elliot Corp., by the way. I find it can be useful to keep track of them. Have you thought of putting an app on his phone?”

  “Beck’s with your therapist already?”

  She nods, still looking around, her expression vaguely unimpressed. God knows what she’d have thought of my old apartment back in California. Horror, most likely. “You’re really moving out, but staying in the same house? How does that even work?”

  “It’s between Beck and me.”

  She continues on, ignoring my comment completely as only an Elliot can do. “Why don’t I make some calls and we’ll have a spa day. Girl talk, massages, the whole shebang. We’ll get this shit sorted out and get things back to normal in no time.”

  “Emma, I appreciate the thought, but please stop.”

  Her shoulders sink. “He really screwed things up with you, didn’t he?”

  “Yeah, he did.”

  She takes a deep breath. “So how big an apology present are we talking? Ten million? Twenty?”

  I channel some calm. “Emma, I know you mean well, but we’re going to have to sort this out on our own.”

  Her bottom lip trembles. “But if I can’t fix things then I’m going to feel very out of control and unhappy. Do you really want that on your conscience?”

  Fuck me.

  “I’m pregnant. My mood swings are very violent and I’m meant to stay calm,” she says, voice rising in pitch at an astounding rate. “Beck and you fighting is not making me calm, Alice.”

  “Okay, okay. He can buy things to help make it better. Just not for me.”

  “Not for you? Okay, I can work with that. Let me think.” She pulls her cell out of her handbag, shooting off a text. “This is all such a mess. Beck called yesterday wanting the number for a therapist. Then Grandma called wanting to know if she could rely on me if a certain family matter she refused to name came before the board. I told her there was no way I could make a decision without more information. Next Ethan rang to warn me Grandma was being cagey and not to commit to anything. I mean, no shit.”

  “Right.”

  “And Grandma called Mom and went off about your foul language and general unsuitability. Told her all about the conversation you two had because Grandma has never understood when she’s gone too far. Mom told her off for interfering. Gave her quite the serving apparently. Mom also finally kicked Selah to the curb for repeating conversations and other information she’d overheard in the workplace. A total privacy violation. The stupidity of the girl is awe-inspiring. By that time I figured we just needed to get on a plane so I could come sort this all out. Are you going to give me your version of events or what?” Emma takes a seat on the edge of the bed. “Talk to me, Alice.”

  “Basically, he lied and some of the things he lied about wouldn’t have even mattered to me, but he still felt the need to lie.”

  She shakes her head. “What you need to understand is that males are just naturally less intelligent. Especially when it comes to emotions and relationships and…everything really. The list is endless.”

  “I’m not sure that’s backed by any actual science.”

  “No. But it makes sense, doesn’t it? Do you know why I kicked Matías out over a year ago?” she asks, head cocked. “Because his assistant was in love with him and he refused to see it. She’d text him about work at all hours. Make overly familiar little comments. Even cooked for him. Casseroles, cookies, you name it. I can’t cook for shit, but like we didn’t already have a chef on staff. And Matias refused to see it, flat out would not set boundaries with the woman. Even when she turned up for the second time all dressed up with surprise urgent documents for him to sign when she knew that I’d be out. Such bullshit!”

  “Huh.”

  “He suggested we go to therapy to deal with my jealousy issues. When all along, he just needed to tell this woman it was never going to happen.”

  “I had no idea,” I say.

  “Nice guys are the worst. So clueless. It wasn’t even like I was insisting he fire her or something. He just needed to wise up and set some limits.”

  “That’s very reasonable of you, r
eally.” I’m not saying I’m surprised, but I am. “Not sure I’d be that nice in your shoes.”

  “Don’t get me wrong—I wanted to kick the girl’s ass. But she’s not the one who made me promises. He was. And the thing is, despite all of this, he’s still the one. I knew it all along. There he is in my head, up on a little pedestal flashing me his smile.” She groans. “I can’t help it. I love him. A thing Mom once told me that seems pertinent is this: even heroes fuck up sometimes. At the end of the day, they too are only human.”

  I snort. “She has a point.”

  “So, tell me everything that went down between you and my little brother. Don’t leave out a single detail.”

  “Oh, I’m not sure—”

  “Alice, I like you. I don’t like many people,” she states. “I especially don’t like many of the people who’ve tried to date my brothers. Even the rare ones who did happen to make them happy upon occasion. Maybe you and Beck will get back together, maybe you won’t. But sometimes you just need to lay everything on a friend. I’m sitting right here. Let me be that for you.”

  And regurgitating the whole thing is going to hurt. That’s a given. But then, keeping quiet and isolating myself has done me absolutely no good in the past. The exact opposite, in fact. It’s a bad habit I need to break. Because I haven’t even tried reaching out to my own family or friends yet. Meanwhile, Emma just waits, her gaze patient and understanding, even. She’s been here too. That was the point of her sharing the story with me. Heartbreak sucks and keeping it to yourself doesn’t make it any better.

  “Okay,” I say, the stupid tears coming all over again. “All right, I’ll talk.”

  In the afternoon, Mrs. Francis delivers an item of mail. Only my first name is scrawled on the front. Inside the envelope there’s a copy of the contract I signed. Someone has helpfully highlighted the section on what my payout would be should the relationship with Beck be terminated. There’s also a smaller envelope full of ashes, weirdly enough. NDA is written on the front. Guess I’m no longer bound by that. There are also copies of emails detailing donations to the various charities and businesses I’d been recently researching. Which is great for them. It’s a start.

  Living in this bubble of depression sucks. I want to shake it off, but it keeps right on weighing me down. If the harm done by the idiot in my last year of college stung, then Beck’s betrayal is about a million times worse. Every part of me feels hurt and I hate being this fragile. That’s he’s in pain too just makes it a million times worse. I also hate not having an answer for how to instantly fix things between us. Maybe I should go back to college and do some more psychology. Learn about relationships, maybe.

  Someone, however, who isn’t in school where he belongs is Henry. “Fam,” he yells, banging on the bedroom door. “Open up.”

  I do as asked. The expression he gives my messy bun, jeans, and tee is not so polite. First Emma and now him. No shit I don’t look my best. I’m going through some things right now. Sheesh. Also, Ethan is waiting silently nearby. I also spy a black tail swishing agitatedly beneath a nearby sofa. Poor Princess. It can’t be easy being a floof baby when your newly adopted parents are going through some stuff. She has to be picking up on the weird vibes. Or having a weird dream while she naps. Or has gas. One or the other.

  “What the hell are you doing up here?” asks Henry.

  Such a judgmental family. I frown. “Why aren’t you in school?”

  “Why are you and Beck fighting?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “Language,” I say, warningly. Then I reach out to touch his hand. He allows this contact for like two seconds before giving me a you’re being weird look. Teenagers. What can you do? “It’s good to see you, Henry. Are you okay?”

  “What do you think?” he asks, tone somewhat aggressive.

  Ethan raises a hand. “Hi, Alice. He called and said he needed to talk to you so I figured I may as well just bring him.”

  “Hi, Ethan.”

  Henry slides past me and slumps onto the bed. His dark hair is slicked back, his usual smirk replaced by a somber expression. “Grandma wants me to support her in taking control of my shares from Ethan.”

  “What?”

  “Even if she did, she still wouldn’t have the votes necessary to kick Beck off the board,” says Ethan. “Don’t worry.”

  Thank goodness for that.

  “It’s all such bullshit,” says Henry.

  “Language.”

  He rolls his eyes. “Whatever. You need to fix things, Alice. Beck is miserable. Grandma is harassing me. Everything’s wrong.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Then talk to Beck and sort things out.”

  I shake my head “Henry…we’re working on it, okay? It’s just going to take some time.”

  “Fucking adults.” He looks to heaven. “You’re always messing up everything and making it ten times more difficult than it needs to be. He’s sorry, okay? He’s an idiot; of course he screwed up. Look at our family history—we’re bound to be terrible at this sort of thing. But it’s nothing you two can’t fix.”

  I turn away for a moment. “How is school going? Is everything all right? It’s really is good to see you.”

  He curls his upper lip, body tense. “You’re being fucking selfish, you know that?”

  “Henry,” snaps Ethan. “That’s not okay. Apologize.”

  But instead, he kicks back hard against the base of the bed before throwing himself out the door and pushing past Ethan. Hoodie pulled up, he heads for the stairs.

  Ethan sighs. “It’s a tough situation for him. There hasn’t been a lot of stability in his world lately.”

  I just nod. My throat is tight and sore. Again.

  “I get this is none of my business, what’s going on between you and Beck,” he says, not looking at me. “But don’t underestimate how important you are to him.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Henry had a point about us not learning anything good from some of the authority figures in our lives. It’s not an excuse, but…just keep it in mind.”

  “Yeah.”

  He lifts a hand goodbye. “If you need anything, call me. I mean that.”

  “Thank you.” And I’m crying once more. God, this sucks. It completely fucking sucks.

  There’s a knock on the door around seven and Beck stands there with a tray. No idea why the sight of him still sets me metaphorically on my ass. Angry or not, I turn into this gasping swooning creature around him. A woman who needs to ease up on the emotions. Because it can’t be healthy, going from heaven to hell and back again several times in the course of one day. However, something in me eases at the sight of him. Some anxiety that’s been churning inside of me all day. He’s still in the jeans and tee, only with an added cool black leather jacket. And seeing him reminds me of what Emma said. About how even heroes fuck up sometimes. Because Beck is definitely my hero, set up on a pedestal inside my head. It’s a fact and it probably doesn’t make life or being in a relationship with me any easier for him. Maybe we both need to bring our expectations down to a more reasonable, livable level. Neither of us is godlike or infallible.

  “I come bearing food and this disgusting-looking drink for some reason,” he says.

  “Apparently my complexion is shit.”

  “Ah.” He braves a smile, but it doesn’t quite stick. “Well, I brought my dinner up as well since we said we’d eat together. Would you like it in the room or…”

  “Why don’t we sit out here on the couches?”

  He sets the tray down on the modern-looking glass and metal coffee table, taking the seat across from me. Princess lurks beneath, watching us with those pretty green eyes. Dinner is salmon with béarnaise sauce and steamed vegetables. Two slices of pecan pie with whipped cream sit on the side. My stomach grumbles at the scent of food. So I’ve been surviving on drama and caffeine. As you do.

  “Heard you had some visitors toda
y,” he says.

  “It was a day, all right. Almost your whole family dropped by. It’s nice that they care. Though I’m a little worried about Henry.”

  “Try not to be. Ethan promised to take him snowboarding on the next school break. I might go along with them.”

  “That’s a good idea. I think he’d like that.” I spear some potato with my fork. “How did it go talking to the therapist?”

  “It was enlightening.” He frowns. “I’m still figuring things through, thinking over what he said. We’ll meet again tomorrow.” I guess my face registers surprise, because Beck nods. “Told you I was serious about fixing things.”

  “I know…I just…I don’t know.” Then I make the huge mistake of picking up the khaki-colored drink and taking a sip. “Oh good God, that’s revolting.”

  One side of his mouth edges upward into a smile. “Looks it.”

  “It’s even worse than the one she made me drink at lunch. Tell me, am I beaming yet? Is my skin translucent and radiant?” I joke.

  “Absolutely.”

  “Beck…” My timid smile fades as soon as it appears. “You’re not meant to tell lies.”

  He pauses. “If you’re imagining you ever look anything other than beautiful to me, you’re wrong.”

  I finish chewing my potato, taking my time. Too many feelings, dammit. “You’re beautiful to me too.”

  “Thank you.” Which is when my cell starts going off in my back jeans pocket. Like seriously. My whole butt cheek is vibrating.

  Beck raises a brow. “Sounds like you should get that.”

  “Yeah.”

  Mom: You okay?

  Me: Yes.

  Me: Mostly.

  Me: Beck and I are just going through some stuff.

  Mom: Sorry to hear that. But it is interesting. Your brother’s mortgage got paid off today and $500k was put in the college fund for your niece.

  Me: Huh.

  Mom: I also just heard from your old neighbor re your plant she’s looking after. Mrs. Flores won a luxury apartment near the beach in Santa Monica and will be moving. Said she won a sweepstakes.